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THE WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY • Vol. 123. No. 2. June 2011 
(Scott 1978). The forest at this site resembles 
tropical lowland evergreen forest, although forest 
along the ridge contains more moss and epiphytic 
plants and resembles lower montane evergreen 
forest. 
Oventeni (10 45' S, 74’ 13' W; 1,000 m) is the 
largest colonist settlement in the Gran Pajonal and 
has experienced the greatest human impact. Orig¬ 
inally within a large pajonal. it is now surrounded 
by a mosaic of forest, pajonales of several 
vegetative types, pastures, and swidden chacras in 
different stages of disturbance and succession 
(Scott 1978, Mvalkof 2006). Chrostowski and 
Denevan (1970) and Scott (1978) reviewed the 
plant communities associated with different land 
uses, succession patterns, and pajonal types around 
Oventeni. The nearby forest resembles tropical 
lowland evergreen forest with increasing moss and 
epiphyte loads on higher hills and the slopes cast of 
town as the forest transitions to lower montane 
evergreen forest. Most forest patches around 
Oventeni are second growth, although some 
primary remnants may persist (Scott 1978). 
The Shaani Valley site (10 42' S, 74 07' W) is 
on the upper slopes of the saddle between the Sira 
ridge and the isolated peak of Menkoremon. This 
site includes elevations between 1,800 and 
1,900 m where the dominant habitat is upper 
montane evergreen forest. Patches of bamboo 
0 Chusquea spp.) are frequent in this area, and 
mosses and epiphytes are abundant. Also present 
on patches of line white substrates is a stunted 
forest containing numerous palms (Arecaceae) 
and other plants with thick, glossy leaves. 
Menkoremon (10 42’ S, 74 06' W) is the 
highest summit in the southern Cerros del Sira at 
2,240 in and is covered in elfin forest transitioning 
to a plant community resembling paramo grass¬ 
lands. The latter is dominated by grasses, but also 
includes scattered ground bromeliads (Bromelia- 
ceae) and Paepalunthus spp.. heather ( Bejaria 
aestuans). orchids (Orchidaceae), ferns (Jameso- 
nia spp.. Sticherus spp., Gleichenio spp.), and club 
mosses (Lycopodiella spp.). We photographed 
Drosera spp. (Droseraceae). a scarce genus in 
Peru, and one that is indicative of nutrient 
depleted soil (Rodolfo Vasquez, pers. comm.). 
The Shinipo Valley (10 31' S, 74 07' W) is on 
the eastern slope of the Cerros del .Sira and 
includes elevations between 900 and 1,200 m. The 
habitat is lower montane evergreen forest with a 
canopy height of —30 m oil the slopes and as low 
as 10 m on ridge crests. 
We also recorded observations briefly or 
opportunistically at three secondary localities: 
Santeni Valley (10 42' S, 74 09' W), Tzipani 
Valley (10 40' S. 74 05' W). and Ccrro 
Quilchungari (11 03' S. 74 11' W; Fig. I). 
Field Methods. —We conducted surveys across 
all habitat types at each primary site (Table 1). 
Observational surveys were conducted along 
transects that followed trails or water courses 
between 0500 and 1200 hrs PET and again 
between 1400 and 1830 hrs. Observation data have 
been deposited in the Avian Knowledge Network 
through the eBird portal. Cornell Laboratory' of 
Ornithology. Ithaca. New York, USA. We made 
extensive use of audio recording for identification 
and documentation, and our recordings have been 
archived at the Macaulay Library (Ml.). Cornell 
Laboratory of Ornithology. Ithaca, New York. 
LISA. We mist-netted birds in local habitats at each 
primary study site and obtained measurements and 
photographs of many species (Table I, Appendix). 
We collected voucher specimens and tissue 
samples of select species (Appendix), which are 
deposited at the Centro de Ornitologia y Biodi 
versidad (CORBIDI). Lima, Peru: the Cornell 
University Museum of Vertebrates (CUMV), 
Ithaca, New York; and the Kansas University 
Natural History Museum (KUNHM), Lawrence. 
Kansas. Common and scientific names of birds 
follow Gill and Donsker (2010). 
RESULTS 
We recorded 462 bird species representing 52 
families above 900 m elevation in the study 
region. About 110 of the 462 species recorded 
above 900 m represent first records for the 
Department of Ucayali (T. S. Sehulenberg. peo 
comm.). Information on distribution among the 
study sites, relative abundance, habitat, documen¬ 
tation. and conservation status for each species is 
in the Appendix. 
Pajonal Bird Community. —We recorded 10b 
bird species representing 30 families in the 
pajonales. and detected 61 species only in this 
habitat. Tyrannidae (22 species) and Thraupidae 
(17 species) were the most diverse families. M ore 
species were encountered in the shrub-dominated, 
marginal, and secondary pajonales than in the 
grass-dominated pajonales and pastures. 
Montane Bird Community—We detected 300 
bird species representing 45 families across all 
humid montane habitats (i.e., paramo, elfin foreh¬ 
and upper and lower montane evergreen forest) 
